Balloting-booth



(No Model.) 7

J. H. VAN DORN.

BALLOTING BOOTH.

No. 501,120.- I Patented'July 11, 1893.

WJ'INE 5555. V INVENIUR.-

.AIIURNEK JAMES H. VAN DORN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BALLOTI N G-BOOTH.

bPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 501,120, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed February 16, 1893. Serial No. 462,645. (No model.)

' To all whom/zit may cmwcrn:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. VAN DoRN, of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot-ing Booths; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in balloting booths, the same having a rigid section and adistensible canvas covered section, the floor of the latter being hinged to, and serving as a side wall for the former, with means for raising and lowering such folding member, and for holding the canvas cover distended.

My invention also relates to the details of construction hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, the object being to lessen the weight and to reduce the initial cost of the booth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is an end elevation of the booth, with the distensible parts collapsed. Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the booth distended to its maximum size. irregular line so or, Fig. 2 showing only the rearward portion of the booth.

A, represents the body or rigid section of f the booth, the same being preferably rectan gular in plan, and consisting of a suitable frame work covered preferably with corrugated sheet metal, and having a floor A, a roof A and door and window at either end, as at A A The metal sheathing is omitted on the left hand side of the booth, and this space is closed by the folding door B, the latter being hinged at b to member A, member B in its horizontal position serving as a floor for the distended section of the booth.

O is a canvas cover. for the distended section, this canvas being secured to the ends, and to the free edge of member B, and being fastened also to the opposing sections of memher A.

D is a stretcher, and its functions are substantially the same as a ridge-pole in 'a tent. To either end of the pole D, and in the center thereof, if need be, is attached the one end of a jointed brace or toggle E, constructed Fig. 3, is a floor in section,on the much the same as the braces for a buggy top. The other end of each brace is hinged at c to member A. When these braces, or toggles,

are distended, as shown in solid lines, Fig. 2,

the stretcher is thereby thrust outward to hold the canvas cover taut.' Meantime fioor Bis supposed to be approximately level. By means of collapsing these braces, the canvas folds downward, so that member B in its function as a door, can be tilted upward and closed, thereby closing this side of the booth. As member B, would likely be, say eight feet wide, by, perhaps twelve feet long, more or less, it would require, perhaps, two or three men to handle it. I have therefore a windlass F, with a removable crank f, by means of which one man can open and close member B. The cable .G, that winds on the Windlass, extends from thence over a sheave at g, and from thence extends around a sheave g, located near the one end and free edge of member B, and from thence the cable leads around another sheave, not shown, located at the other end of member B, in position corresponding with sheave 9'. From thence the cable extends back to member A, to which it is attached near the top and to the end thereof opposite sheave g.

H,is a stationary table fastened to the frame work or floor of the booth.

Stalls must be provided, in which the voters can read and mark their ballots, free from inspection by other parties. These are provided in the following manner:

I I are folding partitions, usually of sheet metal, and hinged to the opposing side wall of the booth, as at 'i, so that these partitions, when not Wanted, as for instance on registering days, can be folded back against the side wall of the booth, out ofthe way. At a is an opening thatmay be closed by the folding door J, this door being hinged to the booth as at j.

K, is a sheet of canvas that is fastened along the free edge of the door J, and the upper edge of the canvas is fastened to the booth along just over opening a. When door J is turned down in the position shown in Fig. 2, the door serves as a table on which to mark the ballots, and the free edge of the door is supported by the canvas. Canvas ends are provided as at L, and similar triangular pieces ICC of canvas M, are provided opposite each partition I, the one edge of a member M being fastened to the opposing edge of the partition, and the opposite edge of the gore M being fastened to and cross-Wise of canvas L, while the bottom of the gore is fastened to and cross-wise of door J. These gores of canvas, together with the folding partitions, isolate the one booth from the next adjacent booths, and in closing door J, the canvas members fold inward out of the way of the door.

What I claim is- 1. A balloting booth having a rectangular rigid section, the one side wall of which coinprises a door hinged along the bottom thereof, so as to fold down to serve as a floor, a canvas COVGI fastened to the free edges of such door and fastened to the opposing sections of the rigid section of the booth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A balloting booth comprising a rigid section, and a distensible section, the one side Wall of the former being in condition to fold downward and outward, to serve as a floor for the latter, a canvas cover adapted to fold inside such folding wall or floor, a stretcher for distending such canvas, toggles for operating such stretcher, substantially as described.

3. A balloting booth comprising a rigid section and a distensible section, the one side wall of the former comprising a door adapted to fold down to a horizontal position to serve as a floor for the latter, a Windlass operatively connected with such folding member for raising and lowering the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A balloting booth having a series of folding partitions, hinged to the one side wall of the booth, an opening in such side wall opposite such partitions, a table hinged along the lower edge thereof to the booth in position to close such openings, acanvas secured to the free edge of such table, and to the booth above in position to support such ta ble in its depressed position, pieces of canvas respectively secured to the folding partitions, and secured to such table cross-wise the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of February, 1893.

JAMES H. VAN DORN.

lVitnesses:

G. P. NASH, O. E. WARD. 

